A great middle grade book which is written so well
I loved the story. It kept my interest.
Perfect for both adults and children

Zillie, Sadie and Neil are “sisters” and look out for each other.

I love how they are all individual characters who we later find out are very different in all aspects.

The good thing was the diversity and disabilities however, I would have preferred to hear about their lives in they’re own voice rather than the main character telling us (Zillie) the impact could have been stronger for the reader.

Lessons to learn in this book even if you are an adult.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it really drew me in.

Just what is The House of Hidden Wonders?

Brilliant

You say middle grade mystery with Arthur Conan Doyle and a diverse cast including some women doing their thing at a time where we don't often hear about that? Or course I'm in and my expectations are high! Luckily, this novel didn't fall short of these lofty expectations.

This novel is about a group of girls or 'sisters': Zillie, Sadie and Neil. We spent a lot of time with Zillie, as the main protagonist, and with Sadie. I loved the idea that Conan Doyle had a band of underworld children similar to the gang featured in his Sherlock Holmes books and that there were women in said gang. I also enjoyed seeing women subvert socially-accepted gender roles and class expectations of the time, although this declined in believability as the book continued and veered towards the cliché. I enjoyed the mystery and got sucked into it after a slow start. It was wrapped up satisfactorily to be a standalone, although these characters would lend themselves to deeper exploration in further books.

These girls are very interesting and distinct characters, but I did have an issue with seeing everything through Zillie's narrative POV lens, particularly the issues around race surrounding Nell and what's later revealed to be the disability of another. I really appreciated seeing these issues discussed in middle grade, but thought it would have been more powerfully expressed byvthe characters who experienced them, rather than the reader being shown this through a white able-bodied gaze; something that you see time and again throughout literature. I loved that there were a variety of temperaments on show here, people with different experiences and backgrounds. It made the cast of characters really come to life as an ensemble and it would be great to see this as a film for younger audiences.

After a rocky start, I found the book to be extremely engaging and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.

Thanks so much for this great and personally loved middle age book, loved the story the intrigue and Edinburgh as a setting for the plot to take place!

Zinnie and her "sisters" lived in the murky tunnels of Edinburgh and find throughout the book more people are living in these particular tunnels. So Zinnie decides to investigate . I won't go into what she finds as it would be a complete spoiler for the rest of the book and I do not do spoilers of any kind. I will say that there are a plethora of characters including Conan Doyle when he was studying and a female Dr. I loved that Sharon had such strong female characters in an era where women and girls did not have the same freedoms as their male counterparts. I thoroughly enjoyed The House of Hidden Wonders by Sharon Gosling and I wish to thank Netgalley and Little Tiger for letting me review this wonderful book. For these reasons I had to give 4 stars.

Unfortunately something went wrong with my download of this book and I'm not able to redownload it now as it's been archived. Hopefully I'll be able to read it in another form in the future as the premise sounds good.

What an amazing surprise! I thought I was going to like this book, I did not expect to LOVE it! Zinnie is an amazingly strong willed character and will do whatever she has to in order to keep her family safe and together.
•
•
I usually am not keen on books where the plot constantly leaves you wondering what the main twist will be but the pieces of this puzzle slotted together so well. I was also bowled over by the inclusion of the character of Arthur Conan Doyle!
•
•
This was a book which just kept giving and I cannot wait to read more from Sharon Gosling!

It’s the year 1870. We’re in Edinburgh, Arthur Conan Doyle is a medical student, but he’s not our main character. Our MC is Zinnie, a fierce young girl, trying to keep a roof over the heads of her sisters Sadie and Nell, and some sort of food on their table. This is how Doyle and Zinnie cross paths, Doyle pays Zinnie for small jobs – like recovering a pocket watch – which soon turns into solving mysteries.

Zinnie is a wonderful character, she’s loyal to her family and friends, she’s headstrong and intelligent. You know that she’ll prevail against all odds and that you can count on her to protect her siblings.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes their stories a little on the dark side, though not that dark, it’s a middle-grade after all. The historical figures included in the story don’t distract from Zinnie’s story or the mystery, they add to it.

A really fun adventure. I loved the setting and loved that it featured Sophia Bkake-Jex one of my favourite historical heroes from the time period. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

#AnEditorReviews: The House of Hidden Wonders
Posted on May 28, 2020



The House of Hidden Wonders

written by Sharon Gosling

illustrated by Hannah Peck

published by Little Tiger

274 pages in paperback + bonus material



thrilling Edinburgh Gothic mystery



Summary from NetGalley

Zinnie and her sisters live in the murky tunnels beneath Edinburgh’s Old Town. They keep out of the way of the authorities and remain undetected. Until, that is, rumours of a ghost bring unwanted visitors into the caverns they call home. Among them, a young Arthur Conan Doyle, keen to investigate, and MacDuff, the shady owner of Edinburgh’s newest attraction, the House of Wonders.
Caught up in a world of intrigue and adventure, Zinnie seeks answers. But how can she discover what secrets lie in the House of Wonders while also protecting the sisters she holds so dear?
One reader’s point-of-view

As a fan of good covers, those gold curlicues and interesting faces attracted me from the start. I hoped it would be historical – and rather spooky. By the end, I knew The House of Hidden Wonders certainly was – and about each of the characters.

Hannah Peck’s splendid cover promises a mystery involving all those people – and the story delivers in a thrilling Edinburgh Gothic manner, complete with moments of weird beauty. I don’t do spoilers in this section – but I can tell you there is plenty of heart-stopping threat, lots of courage and friendship along the way and a thoroughly satisfying end. It is scary and even gruesome in parts, and there is sadness – so perhaps not ideal for the most sensitive reader. But as an escape into a different world, (the Edinburgh of 1879 – complete with a map) it’s ideal as a break from current problems.

It has an appealing Victorian Murder Most Unladylike feel: oodles of female friendships, puzzles to be solved and great bravery. There’s the added bonus of real historical characters too – and brief, interesting notes at the end for those who want to know more. Unashamedly feminist, I’d recommend it to any reader looking for excitement and bold, adventurous characters to read about.

Where to buy The House of Hidden Wonders
Map of Independent Bookshops

This can be searched by country/continent.

From an editor’s perspective [warning – there are spoilers]

Things to look out for:

short prologue which leads a reader to expect something supernatural
later dénouements reveal more rational origins – literary misdirection
similar apparently ghostly elements are shown to be misapprehensions – or hoaxes
although modelled on 19th Century Girls’ Own Adventure novels, the action is seen through modern eyes
sensitive issues such as racism, class and attitudes to people with disabilities are handled with care
the inclusion of a character with Down’s Syndrome is nicely done
real characters and real places used to good effect in grounding the tale
some local expressions boost the sense of place – for my personal taste, I’d like more
the map and quasi-reproduction newspapers help convince the reader
epilogue which ties up emotional loose ends yet leaves space for further adventures

I enjoyed this middle grade novel and loved the setting of the victorian era but set in Edinburgh and it was cool idea of adding a historical figure into this story, a great story of a family sticking together when they have not much of a place to call home. plus with added element of a mystery element I liked too

This was a fun historical crime romp aimed at children. I really enjoyed the different elements of this. It had some really great scenes in this and the characters were well rounded and really interesting with each one having traits that made them distinctive and interesting. I did have certain expectations that weren't met but it didn't really ruin the book.

Great adventure, packed with lovable characters and epic shenanigans! I can't wait to share this with my little ones!

This was an exciting read that takes you on a great adventure through the streets of Edinburgh! I found it really easy to become absorbed in and the writing style had such a quirky, fun element to it that made me so eager to carry on reading. Gosling has such a great way of getting you engaged with her stories and this was clearly evident in The House of Hidden Wonders.

The setting of the book is just wonderful and one that I haven’t read about much in Middle Grade. I visited Edinburgh a few years ago and loved it, so it was great to read about this wonderful city. Also, I visited Mary’s King Close when I was there and found it fascinating, so, was overjoyed to be able to read about it in The House of Hidden Wonders. The details of Edinburgh in 1800’s were so intricate and intriguing, and I feel that Gosling must have done tons of research to get this amount of accuracy within the book, and that is commendable.

The plot, despite starting off quite slow, keeps you on your toes and makes you want to know more. I do love a good mystery and the one that was present within The House of Hidden Wonders was such a thought provoking one, that did make me think..a lot! The use of suspense to capture the readers interest was also amazing in this book, and you literally can’t put it down. Gosling has an incredible way of keeping the reader on tenterhooks and this, in turn, makes them become utterly absorbed in the story.

The diversity within The House of Hidden Wonders is next to none, and something that has been solely needed in Middle Grade for a while now. We have own voices rep, disability rep and great female rep, and I was all for it! The one that stood out the most was the disability representation. We learn that one of the characters has Down’s Syndrome and what I like about it was that most of the characters within the story treated them exactly the same as others, and it warmed my heart. It’s exactly how people in real life should be treating those with disabilities and I am hoping that anyone who reads this book takes that away with them.

The House of Hidden Wonders was an enjoyable, action packed read full of secrets and surprise. If you end up reading this you will find yourself drawn in and captivated by it’s historical, diverse feel.

What a brilliant book. Wonderful characters, evocative writing and a cracking plot. I will definitely be recommending this to fans of Emma Carroll. Loved it.

The House of Hidden Wonders follows Zinne through the streets of Edinburgh as she protects her sisters and works with the future author, Arthur Conan Doyle. That is a super basic introduction and doesn't do this book justice.

I thoroughly enjoyed Gosling's writing. It was fluent and well described, with good pacing and characterization of her many different types of characters. The story has two worlds - the poor and the rich - and both are well matched against each other. I liked the character interactions, the good and the bad, and how the reality of Edinburgh was woven into this story. Particularly, my favourite characters were Zinnie and Lady Sarah. In the course of the book, they show great resourcefulness and intelligence. Their interactions are really sweet and I love how Zinnie cares for her sisters - blood or otherwise!

This is a really fast-paced and engaging middle-grade story. It is definitely something I would recommend and I can't wait to read more of Sharon Goslings work!

A fascinating story which weaves together history and fiction. The action takes place in and below Edinburgh. The setting of the old ruins underneath Edinburgh offers a ghostly chill to the story. The characters come from very different lives and readers will learn about some interesting historical figures.
There’s mystery, a nasty villain , a lovable animal sidekick, dastardly plots and complicated plots to stop the villains.
The author sensitively deals with a character’s disability which leads the readers to build their own empathy with this character.
A great page turner with twists and turns which will keep attention right to the final page. Loved it.

The House of Hidden Wonders is a superbly gripping historical adventure set in a richly detailed and immersive Victorian Edinburgh which immediately captured me in the richly atmospheric and intriguing prologue, and kept me enthralled until the final page.

Zinnie and her little sisters, Nell and Sadie, scrape a meagre living on the streets of Edinburgh, and live in the tunnels beneath it. Zinnie has taken both of the younger girls, who are orphans, into her heart and is determined to protect them and keep them safe: the strength of their sisterly bond is beautifully portrayed throughout. These unbreakable bonds of sisterhood are a strong theme within the story, and the relationships between the sisters was incredibly touching, especially in Zinnie’s absolute commitment to saving her youngest sister when she becomes desperately ill.

One of the people who gives Zinnie paid jobs is none other than a young medical student, Arthur Conan Doyle. He treats her with respect and values her opinion, asking for her help in solving a gruesome mystery, but unwittingly puts her in terrible danger as she tries to keep herself one step ahead of the law, and finds herself coming to the attention of a vile villain who will stop at nothing to protect his own secrets …

Zinnie’s life changes forever when she attends a séance being organised by the independently wealthy widow Lady Sarah Montague. It is not long before she finds herself at the centre of a dark and utterly intriguing mystery: uncovering hidden secrets within the House of Wonders museum; revealing the true story of the ghost haunting the tunnels; and, uncovering the perpetrator of a crime from the past that has come to the streets of her home … The plot is intricate, action-packed, heart-stopping, and so very, very clever: I was utterly compelled to follow Zinnie who proves to be a rather brilliant sleuth in her own right.

I absolutely adored Zinnie, who is just the most wonderful young girl. She is incredibly protective of Nell and Sadie who have become her sisters. Highly intelligent, fiercely independent and full of courage, Zinnie forges her own path and has an incredible inner strength and tenacity, not afraid to stand up to unscrupulous adults, and fight for those she loves. She sees past other peoples’ prejudices, and is determined to fight for the rights of others, especially those of another young girl who has found herself being cruelly exploited. The portrayal of this young girl’s condition is beautifully written: she is a victim, but she is also a fighter and a survivor, but who doesn’t need someone else fighting your corner when the odds are not in your favour? This is a role that Zinnie fulfils with kindness, ingenuity and great deal of empathy.

I also loved the portrayal of the strong adult female characters in this story. Lady Sarah Montague is an independent widow who uses her wealth to fulfil her sense of adventure by undertaking intrepid expeditions, and is quite capable of standing up for herself, and woe betide any man who thinks she should be doing otherwise! Dr Sophia Jex-Blake is a real historical figure, being the first female doctor in Scotland: I found the Author’s Historical Note regarding her fascinating.

It was a privilege to read this utterly compelling historical adventure with its inspirational female characters, realistic setting, and gripping plot which kept me turning page after page as I just had to follow the mystery with all of its superb twists and turns. Sheer brilliance!

I loved this MG mystery. Set in 1870s Edinburgh this story is cleverly woven into the history of the city and some of its more significant residents - discovering at the end of the book that Arthur Conan Doyle was not the only real life character felt like a real treat. The book follows three sisters, Zinnie, Sadie and Nell - three homeless, parentless girls who've found each other and found that family doesn't necessarily mean genetics. As Zinnie works to protect her little sisters she gets drawn into the underworld and solving some properly ghoulish crime. I was gripped by the plot and found I had to keep reading to see a) what had happened and b) that the girls were going to be okay. An excellent book.

This could have been a 4, but I'm sticking with 3.

This story follows the lives of young children in 1870s Edinburgh. Sisters bonded by hardship. We meet Sadie, an Irish orphan with a knack for medicinal herbs (she'd make a great midwife, but I suppose a doctor will suffice!) her younger 'sister' Nell, a very young black orphan with no where to go and a horrible sickness threatening her life and our main girl Zinnie. She is the big sister and only wants to provide a better life for her family.

Zinnie is known to the not-so-famous writer Arthur Conan Doyle as his 'finder out of things': she helps him track down stolen or lost items and she ensures she does a good job to buy food for her sisters.

As Conan Doyle is studying medicine at Edinburgh Infirmary, he asks Zinnie for her opinion on a bizarre case - bodies with their ears missing! As Zinnie aids the future author with the findings, she interacts with an array of characters and discovers some truly gruesome things. Zinnie risks it all and does what she has to, in order to protect her family, old and new.

This is very good middle grade crime book but perhaps for the upper range of the age group, due to the nature of ears being severed and some threatening language which may make some younger children uncomfortable (I know Talbot will be haunting my dreams).

My only criticism and the reason I give 3 stars and not 4 is that the storyline is slow. There is so much description and exposition that it drags the story out, removing some of the tension and slowing down the flow of the plot. It wasn't like the usual middle grade books I've read where you're left wanting more so you keep reading and keep reading until you've finished. This book, I found easy to put down and come back to. I didn't feel like I was being told to keep reading, to find out what happens next. That's my only complaint.

The characters were well written and it has a happy ending. What more could I want?

Had this been written for adults, I would hope to see Fowler gunned down or some horribly graphic end.